Re: 69 Sedan de Ville official restoration thread

Thanks for your kind words. The mechanic told me yesterday that next monday would change differential at last (he has a lot of work but I prefer waiting till he has some time for me, as he´s very good with these american classics). I´ll make some shots of the job to upload

Re: 69 Sedan de Ville official restoration thread

Thanks for your kind words. The mechanic told me yesterday that next monday would change differential at last -and if we have enough time, fix wiper installation-. He has a lot of work but I prefer waiting till he has some time for me, as he´s very good with these american classics. I´ll make some shots of the job to upload

It runs again!!! Differential changed

Yesterday, at last, the mechanic changed my caddy´s differential, that had a breakdown last march due to lube level was near zero when I took the car home end december, as the result of a careless maintenance. You can see more info about breakdown here: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...breakdown.html

The car had to remain stopped since then. I had to bring another differential I bought in Phoenix, from a company specialized in used cadillac parts. As soon as I received it, I took it to the mechanic to start changing the seal, as he needed a tool that he could not take to the place the car is. While attempting to put the new seal it broke and he had to order a new one, but this time everything went ok. It´s not easy to put the new seal; you will appreciate it when you can see a pic when it´s partially shown on its place.

Finally, my friend, the mechanic had some time to go where the car is standing (53 miles from our city) and change differentials.

First step is elevate the rear end and let it lie on two jack stands, taking out fender skirts, wheels and drum covers, then you can see the axle shaft end. It had to be hit some times -not much- and finally it got out. Both of them turned well and were not damaged, but they were bathed in a kind of rusty mud, as if the axle had been submerged in water (see pics).

Next step is disassembling transmission bar and start unbolting differential assembly from the axle. It´s just that easy in this type of differentials, used by cadillac from '65 to '69, that is in turn an evolution of previous differential. In 1970 the system changed and you have to open rear axle by the rear cover and you need some more steps some times not very pleasant.

When it was unbolted, we supported it on the jack, as it weighs 95 lbs. so we can low and carry it easily. Before getting out, something like crude oil -a small amount- got down from inside the axle. It was the remains of the degraded lube, you can see below in a pic. The thing was evidently damaged in the ring and pinion at least as you can see in these pics. Orange color shows overheating due to lack of lube. You can also note the ring cogs are really worn. Although it´s difficult seeing pinion you can see orange color in some parts of its cogs.

Re: 69 Sedan de Ville official restoration thread

In the last one you can see the seal partly colored in green, as well as the nose bumper arm bolts. Bumper arm is mounted in last place.
After putting the gasket with some sealant, the good diff. is placed on the jack and moved to its place. Then we jack it up and move it slightly towards the axle to get its holes fit in the rods, bolt it again, place axle shafts on their place hitting them a little at end of operation.

Now it`s time to refill the differential housing by the filling bolt with a good SAE 90 lube. After a year, we will change lube again to be sure axle shaft rust is totally clean. Now we put drum covers and wheels on its place and Ready to run again across the roads of Spain!

Before the breakdown we suspected that ring and pinion were damaged as we could hear a moan that became a slight squealing as speed increased. Now no noise can be heard from transmission except the sweet and subtle noise of automatic gear changing from time to time.

We drive tested the car for 6 miles and everything was ok. As environmental temperature was high (about 93ºF) we took the opportunity to test the engine temperature after driving under hot temperature with a laser temp. tester. 185ºF at the highest point (heads) and 150-170ºF on different parts of radiator, what means that the last is cooling ok.

In the gas station I filled the tank -that´s the worst part- so I had to pay $147 for the gas. In Spain now € 5,2 a gallon = $ 7,43 , but everybody asked me about the caddy and even taking photos with it. It looks to everyone like an aircraft carrier of the Navy, heh!

Some pics of Rex by the gas station -a place he likes-. In the last pic it seems double length than the ford escort by his side :LOL: :